How to Get an Emotional Support Animal in NJ

If you suffer from a psychological, mental, or emotional disability, you might find it hard navigating everyday life. An , also known as an ESA, can make it easier for you to function daily in New Jersey. They can give you companionship and lessen feelings of loneliness and stress. These furry friends who act as non-judgmental companions can help distract you from anxiety.

Often, people classify ESAs together with therapy and service animals. While all of these animals are meant to enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities, there are some considerable differences. Unlike service and therapy animals, ESAs don't need advanced training to execute their roles.

Since the roles that your emotional support animal plays are crucial, it's also important that you have the right paperwork that identifies your ESA. With an ESA letter, you'll be able to avoid issues such as being charged housing-related pet fees and any other pet restriction—and this is where DoNotPay comes in. Alongside helping you get an ESA letter, we'll also gladly help you with all your other ESA-related concerns.

What Is an Emotional Support Animal?

An ESA is an animal that a mental health professional or doctor has determined helps lessen the symptoms of both an emotional or mental disability by providing support and companionship to the affected individual. Because of the therapeutic benefits offered to people with disabilities, ESAs can legally live in areas where pets are not typically permitted and go with you into some public places and businesses.

Cats and dogs are the most typical ESAs, but you can keep other types of animals, including pigs, miniature horses, and diverse kinds of birds. All the same, have in mind that the Federal Fair Housing Act (FHA), which safeguards your rights as an ESA owner, also states that your request for ESA accommodation has to be "reasonable." A destructive, poorly behaved, or dangerous animal could give landlords a legitimate reason to deny your ESA request.

What Is an ESA Letter?

An ESA letter denotes an official document drafted by a licensed mental health professional (LMHP). The letter can also be prescribed by other health professionals who are familiar with your medical condition or disability, such as :

Psychiatrist
General practitioner
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists
Licensed Professional Counselors
Behavioral Therapists
Licensed Clinical Social Workers
Licensed Clinical Social Workers

Essentially, an ESA recommends using an emotional support animal as part of your treatment plan when it gets to managing your mental health. This means that your mental health professional believes that you can benefit from the therapeutic relationship as well as comfort that the ESA provides.

The letter should contain the following:

Letter issue date
License expiration date
The license number of the physician or Licensed Mental Health Professional (LMHP)
LMHP contact details

How to Get an ESA Letter in NJ

Acquiring an is a relatively easy process. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Develop a Relationship With an LMHP	If you don't already have an LMHP, look for a reputable one in NJ. Your LMHP will spend some time with you and evaluate your condition to determine whether you're a good candidate for an ESA. Once they do, they'll draft an ESA letter for you, stating that you have a mental illness. The letter should also specify that you need the companionship of an ESA to help you manage your condition.
Utilize Online Resources	You can turn to online resources if you don't want to use an in-person LMHP to apply for an ESA letter. Nevertheless, you should be very cautious if you opt for this method, since there are many online scammers that will offer you false letters.
Get an Animal	Once you ascertain that you qualify for an ESA, you can begin looking for a pet. You can get one from a private pet rescue, a local pet shelter, or a reputable breeder, but if you already own one, you can use it as an ESA. If you're going for a new pet, make sure that it will make a good ESA. Evaluate its size, temperament as well, as the available space you have to accommodate it.
Understand the Renewal Process	According to the Air Carriers Access Act, air travel ESA letters should be renewed after a year. Following the Federal Fair Housing Act, emotional support animals letters don't have an expiration date. Notwithstanding, it's crucial to renew ESA housing letters once every year to avoid problems with landlords.
Stay Updated on New NJ Laws	Once you get your ESA letter, you shouldn't quit the process of learning about ESAs. You should do everything to stay updated so that you aren't left behind if there are any new NJ laws concerning ESAs.

Here's How DoNotPay Can Help

Through our new Service and Emotional Support Animals product, DoNotPay can help you with all of your ESA-related concerns, including contacting your landlord regarding your ESA, finding the most affordable online ESA-letter service, and asking airlines about their accommodation options.

Search "service animal" on DoNotPay.
Select the type of issue you need help with, including contacting your landlord about your ESA/service animal, asking your airline about ESA options, or requesting ESA/service accommodations at other venues.
Answer a series of questions concerning your current situation and the details of your ESA/service animal, so we can generate the best results for you.

If you are going to travel and need to secure accommodations for your ESA, DoNotPay can easily secure an ESA letter for you that you can present to Southwest, American Airlines, and United Airlines, and other airlines.